Best Beth Phillips Podcasts (2024)

1
We've got some news! 1:36

31m ago1:36

1:36

Beth and Ruth are just popping up in the feed with some news. Hopefully you’ve all got a free night in September! For more information on dates and tickets, go to http://www.aegp.uk/Electoral-DysfunctionBy Sky News

1
Molly Spencer (Of Invitation, Bridges and Water, and How Should We Live?) 59:35

1h ago59:35

59:35

Read: "Invitatory" at Poetry Daily Purchase: Invitatory (Parlor Press, 2024) Molly Spencer is a poet, critic, editor, and writing instructor. Her debut collection, If the House (University of Wisconsin Press, 2019) won the 2019 Brittingham Prize judged by Carl Phillips. A second collection, Hinge (SIU Press, 2020), a finalist for the National Poet…

1
Has Keir Starmer reset Britain's relationship with the world? 48:22

42m ago48:22

48:22

Special guest, Labour's Emily Thornberry, joins Beth and Ruth to discuss Sir Keir Starmer's position on the world stage. They examine what was in the King's Speech and talk about the prime minister's meeting of foreign leaders at Blenheim Palace. They also talk about violence against politicians following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump…

1
287: Grief, sex and Ronan Keating with Stacey Heale 54:34

2h ago54:34

54:34

What's the best thing to say to someone who's in mourning? Is the second year of grief really the hardest? And who was the lead singer of Westlife? Helping us answer all these questions is the amazing Stacey Heale! She tells us what it was like to lose her husband, Greg, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer on their daughter's first birthday…

1
Jess Phillips gets a promotion 47:24

18h ago47:24

47:24

Labour MP and now government minister Jess Phillips is back for one last episode with Beth and Ruth. On this episode they discuss Jess' appointment as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office - and why she can't continue with the podcast. They also talk about the Prime Minister's trip to Washington for the NATO summit and questio…

1
286: Post-election special with Jess Phillips MP 1:18:42

5d ago1:18:42

1:18:42

This special bonus episode was recorded on Saturday 6 July, just two days after the general election. We got to interview Jess Phillips MP in front of a live audience at the Birmingham MAC, and she was brilliant. We covered loads of topics including Jess's work in the areas of women's rights and domestic violence, what she wants the new Labour gove…

1
Kyla Houbolt (Of Frogs, Radicalism, and "Going to the Root”) 48:51

17d ago48:51

48:51

Read: "Dawn's Fool" (author's website), also "[your mind that beautiful country]" at Malarkey Books Purchase: But Then I Thought by Kyla Houbolt (above/ground press, 2023) Kyla Houbolt writes poems and occasional reviews, and takes care of two goats, 11 chickens, and 8 ducks. Chapbooks But Then I Thought available from above/ground press, Tuned ava…

1
The election debrief 37:51

8d ago37:51

37:51

Labour MP Jess Phillips is back with Beth and Ruth to un-pick the election results. On this episode they discuss how Jess was heckled when she narrowly held her seat of Birmingham Yardley. They also look at the wider Labour results and talk about Rishi Sunak’s resignation speech, as well as discussing why Reform and the Liberal Democrats took seats…

1
What to watch out for and how to prepare for election night 38:26

11d ago38:26

38:26

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika is back with Beth and Ruth for the last few days of the election campaign. On this episode they discuss how Beth is preparing for election night – what constituencies to look out for and they give a listener advice on election snacks. They also discuss the final days of campaigning and why the Tories are attack…

1
285: Wine and writing with Saturday Kitchen's Helen McGinn 45:43

11d ago45:43

45:43

Our guest for this episode is best-selling author, dear friend and Saturday Kitchen wine expert Helen McGinn! She tells us what wine we should be looking for in the shops this summer. We discuss whether Whispering Angel is worth the money, and McGinn gives us some suggestions for budget rosés, cheap fizz, picnic wines, and what to stick in the frid…

1
Interviewing the PM and loving PMQs – with Rylan 32:03

16d ago32:03

32:03

For the final call-up from Jess’ subs bench, Beth and Ruth get their first male co-host – Rylan! The self-confessed politics junkie explains where his interest comes from, why he always keeps Wednesday free for PMQs – and his own experience of interviewing the Prime Minister. Plus, he explains how his own experience in the public eye could help new…

1
Ae Hee Lee (Of Footnotes, Pineapple Slices, and Wonder) 59:00

30d ago59:00

59:00

Read: "Disambiguation" at Poetry Daily Purchase: Asterism by Ae Hee Lee (Tupelo Press, 2024) Ae Hee Lee--born in South Korea and raised in Peru--is the author of ASTERISM, which was selected by John Murillo for the 2022 Dorset Prize, and the poetry chapbooks Bedtime || Riverbed (Compound Press 2017), Dear bear, (Platypus Press 2021), and Connotary …

1
Does the prime minister's partner have to have a role? 44:04

19d ago44:04

44:04

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika is back with Beth and Ruth as the election campaign moves towards its final week. On this episode they answer listener questions about Nigel Farage - after the Reform UK leader suggested the West provoked Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while insisting he was not an "apologist or supporter of Putin" - and more on…

1
What are the odds a betting scandal sinks the Tories? 32:54

23d ago32:54

32:54

Presenter turned political campaigner Carol Vorderman joins Sky News political editor Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson as the general election campaign enters its final fortnight. Jess has chosen Carol for her subs bench this time because of the campaigning she now does on social media. They assess the damage accusations people close …

1
284: Beth Morrey on writing novels, loving Christmas, and Billie Piper bumsex 45:15

25d ago45:15

45:15

How do you get a book deal? Is Michael Buble's music for life, or just for Christmas? What's it like to watch your husband simulate anal sex with one of Britain's leading actors? Answering all these questions is the brilliant Beth Morrey! She tells us how her first novel ended up in a bidding war after facing loads of rejections, and how her writin…

1
Do you accept defeat in the middle of a campaign? 38:06

1M ago38:06

38:06

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika joins Sky News political editor Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson as the general election campaign heads towards its final fortnight. They're assessing whether Labour can shake off the questions about its taxation policies. As Conservative Grant Shapps seemed to accept election defeat in an intervi…

1
Behind the scenes of The Battle for Number 10 45:33

1M ago45:33

45:33

Former Labour MP Margaret Hodge joins Sky's Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson to talk about the latest developments in the general election campaign. On this episode, Beth takes us behind the scenes of Sky's leaders' event in Grimsby, where Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak faced not just Beth, but an audience of voters on their plan fo…

1
Beth Gilstrap and Lee Potts (Of Desire, Film, and "the Dark Side of Longing for Community") 1:11:43

1M ago1:11:43

1:11:43

Read: Excerpt from Beth Gilstrap's There is News Along the Ohio River (Cincinnati Review), and Lee Potts' "A Time of Splinters" (Moist Poetry Journal) Purchase: Deadheading & Other Stories (Red Hen Press, 2021) by Beth Gilstrap and We Will Miss the Stars in the Morningby Lee Potts Beth Gilstrap is the author of Deadheading & Other Stories (2021), W…

1
How do you recover from a political car crash? 44:41

1M ago44:41

44:41

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika joins Sky’s Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson to talk about the latest developments in the general election campaign. On this episode, they discuss whether Rishi Sunak can recover from his D-Day blunder, the fallout from Douglas Ross’s resignation as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, and how th…

1
What could be in the party manifestos? 45:14

2M ago45:14

45:14

Labour grandee Harriet Harman joins Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson as the first Friday sub for Jess Philips during the election period. They break down the Labour tax row that has dogged both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer since the first leaders’ debate earlier this week, give their take on the impact Nigel Farage standing in Clacton-on-Sea will h…

1
How do leaders prepare for TV election debates? 43:34

2M ago43:34

43:34

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika joins Beth Rigby and Ruth Davidson as the regular Tuesday sub for Jess Philips during the election period. On this episode, they talk about how leaders will be preparing for TV debates - Beth's hosted one, Ayesha has worked with politicians doing them, and Ruth has stood behind a lectern several times herself. …

1
283: Premature birth, neurodiversity, and meeting Oprah, with Caro Tasker 46:10

1M ago46:10

46:10

Our guest for this episode is the amazing Caro Tasker. We cover a huge range of topics, including baby loss, raising autistic kids, and how trauma can help you discover who you are. There's also some much less serious nonsense. Why doesn't anyone use the word git any more? Is being married to a famous rugby player like being in Footballers Wives, o…

1
Extra ED: Beth interviews Angela Rayner 22:30

2M ago22:30

22:30

Beth sits down with the deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner to talk in detail about the investigation into the sale of her ex-council house and the impact it had on her and her family. They also discuss the row over Diane Abbott and accusations of a purge of Labour’s left. Plus, Angela invites Beth aboard her battle bus as her election campaigning …

1
Will Diane Abbott stand for Labour? And pets named after politicians. 45:26

2M ago45:26

45:26

This week, Beth gets Ruth and Jess's take on what's happening now that Diane Abbott has had the Labour whip restored. The WhatsApps from Beth’s sources keep coming as they're recording. They discuss the strategies behind the Sunak and Starmer campaigns – with one going for headline-grabbing pledges and the other spending the first week focusing on …

1
Jared Beloff and Mitchell Nobis (Of Dad Poetics, Care Work, and NAWP) 1:10:40

2M ago1:10:40

1:10:40

Read: "I'd Rather Be" by Mitchell Nobis and "After the Last" by Jared Beloff, both published in Moist Poetry Journal Purchase: Who Will Cradle Your Head by Jared Beloff (and be on the lookout for Mitch Nobel's Beginning to Sense, forthcoming from ELJ Editions in 2025) Jared Beloff is the author of the Who Will Cradle Your Head (ELJ Editions, 2023).…

1
'It's on - what will the 2024 election be like?' 43:15

2M ago43:15

43:15

With Westminster still reeling from the prime minister's decision to call a general election on the 4 July, Beth, Jess and Ruth lift the curtain on what was going on in parliament as rumours started to swirl. Who decided to call an election now? Why did Rishi Sunak not have an umbrella? And what kind of campaign will the parties run over the next s…

1
282: Rom coms, politics and peeing with comedians KK and Kerry 47:49

2M ago47:49

47:49

It's a transatlantic party in this episode as we meet KK and Kerry, the world's second best female comedy double act! We hear about their fab show, Six Chick Flicks, and they tell us the best meet cute stories they've heard from audience members. We discuss how they're enjoying their UK tour, including what they think of Scunthorpe and why they lov…

1
Was this the week the election campaign really started? 40:41

2M ago40:41

40:41

After the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer set out what Labour would do if it wins the election, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson discuss the six key policies that have been unveiled. They also talk about the major speech made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the beginning of the week and debate whether the election campaign has really sta…

1
Erin Hoover (Of Fierce Narrative Poetry, Queer Community, and Writing Without a Map) 1:00:22

2M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

Read: "What If Pain No Longer Ordered the Narrative" (The Sun) Purchase: No Spare People (Black Lawrence Press, 2023) Erin Hoover was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is the author of two poetry collections: Barnburner (Elixir, 2018), which won the Antivenom Poetry Award and a Florida Book Award, and No Spare People (Black Lawrence, 2023). Her…

1
'A punch in the gut': The defection of Natalie Elphicke 33:48

3M ago33:48

33:48

Following the defection of the Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke to Labour, Beth, Ruth and Jess discuss the surprise move and whether it could have been handled differently by Sir Keir Starmer. They also talk about Beth's interview with the former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and his warnings about Reform UK. Plus, how significant was the d…

1
rob mclennan (Of the fragment, linguistic collision, and world's end) 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Read: "Dream, with an interior" in Moist Poetry Journal Purchase: World's End (ARP Books, 2023) and groundwork: The best of the third decade of above/ground press: 2013–2023 (Invisible Publishing, 2023) Born in Ottawa, Canada’s glorious capital city, rob mclennan currently lives in Ottawa, where he is home full-time with the two wee girls he shares…

1
281: Is Ozempic really a magic pill for weight loss? With Johann Hari 57:55

2M ago57:55

57:55

This episode is all about the new weight loss drug Ozempic - what are the risks? What are the benefits? How does it actually work? Joining us is author Johann Hari, who has written a book all about it. Just to be clear: this is a full and frank discussion about the issues around weight loss, the body positivity movement, and the health risks of obe…

1
Elections debrief: Sunak survives? Starmer solid? 44:51

3M ago44:51

44:51

It’s the morning after the day before for Beth, Ruth and Jess as they pull apart the local election results they have so far. They discuss what big council losses for the Conservatives could mean for the Rishi Sunak narrative. How does the re-election of Ben Houchen as Tees Valley mayor help him? Also – are there some niggles for Labour within the …

1
A reset week for Rishi but what will the local elections bring? 49:00

3M ago49:00

49:00

Following the prime minister's trip to Europe this week, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson examine whether Rishi Sunak is convincing on the world stage and ask if his announcement on defence spending will help the Conservatives' chances in next week's local elections. And after the Rwanda bill was passed this week - is this another win fo…

1
280: Lisa Jewell on writing books, watching MAFS, and raising teens 50:36

3M ago50:36

50:36

Yes, it really has been 25 years since Ralph's Party was released! You are that old! Here to talk about that book, and all the brilliant ones she's written since, is best-selling author Lisa Jewell. She tells us about her writing process, and how she cured herself of imposter syndrome. Lisa shares her top tips for budding authors, and introduces us…

1
The Mark Menzies claims. And what makes a good foreign secretary? 39:06

3M ago39:06

39:06

Following allegations Tory MP Mark Menzies misused campaign funds, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips, and Ruth Davidson examine the fallout for the government and for the politician who has been suspended from the parliamentary party. He denies all the claims. And after the Commons votes to ban anyone born after 1 January 2009 from buying cigarettes, the t…

1
The Grindr honeytrap fallout - and do Labour poll leads do them more harm than good? 42:17

3M ago42:17

42:17

As the fall-out from the Westminster honeytrap scandal continues to unravel, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips and Ruth Davidson explain why contacts are so valuable in Parliament and ask what William Wragg’s resignation tells us about Rishi Sunak’s leadership. And, with Labour riding hight after two major polls predicted landslide victories at the upcomin…

1
Just the Two of Us - Remembering Lee Thorn 42:05

3M ago42:05

42:05

We sit down for a serious chat in this episode as we celebrate the life of Lee, Helen's Mum, who passed away recently. And of course, we manage to have a few laughs along the way. We talk about the kind of person Lee was, and how lucky Helen was to have her as a parent. We discuss what it's like to prepare for the death of someone you love, and str…

1
"Answer The Question!" - PMQs, Parliament tea, and the online election 27:52

4M ago27:52

27:52

Why do politicians never answer the question?’ It’s something Beth Rigby, Jess Philips and Ruth Davidson get asked all the time; so, this week they’ve dedicate the whole episode to answering your questions. From why back-benchers ask seemingly pointless questions at PMQs, to the importance of Instagram for the next general election, and where to ge…

1
Emilia Phillips (Of Queering Eve, Stanzaic Shape, and Intimate Community) 48:12

4M ago48:12

48:12

Read: Book X and Book VII from "The Queerness of Eve" Purchase: Nonbinary Bird of Paradise (University of Akron Press, 2024) Emilia Phillips (they/them) is a poet, nonfiction writer, and book reviewer. They are the author of five poetry collections from the University of Akron Press, including Nonbinary Bird of Paradise (forthcoming February 2024) …

1
Where do royalty and politics meet? 39:08

4M ago39:08

39:08

While the Royal family have faced a challenging few weeks, Beth Rigby, Jess Phillips, and Ruth Davidson explore the points where royalty and politics meet, and what the family will say publicly about the state of cancer care following the King and the Princess of Wales' diagnoses. Plus, is deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden someone likely to be fe…

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